Infinite Blue

A pensive cherub on a tiny church behind the Kastro.

It is a bright sunny day on Symi, a small but extremely pretty island in the southern Dodecanese. Temperatures are in the mid thirties and there is a light breeze to take the edge off the heat. The sky is the infinite blue of the Greek flag and there is a sparkle to the light today.

A quiet lane in Chorio



There is a fancy new cruise ship, Le Boreal, alongside the clock tower in Yialos so the harbour is full of French and American tourists for a few hours. The water taxis are busy and through my open window I hear the sound of many happy reunions as Symi’s regular September visitors get together at Pachos cafeneion and plan their activities for the day. Webcam watchers will have noticed a lot of webcam waves and an increase in the size of the stack of beer crates next to Pachos.

One of the many similar church towers on the island.

This one is at the base of the ramp leading up to the Kastro.

 It is the time of the year when serious walkers and photographers arrive on Symi in droves. The combination of lovely architecture, passing clouds and lengthening shadows is irresistible, as is the fact that one no longer needs to rise at 4 a.m to catch the spectacular sunrises over Pedi Bay. Energetic days of climbing hills and steps are followed by restorative swims and convivial taverna meals. The days may be getting shorter and the ambient temperature cooler but our patch of the Mediterranean Sea remains warm enough to swim in until Christmas, long after the first rains have set in.

These olive trees are in the grounds of the Panormiteion high school. The house in the back ground is on the Kali Strata and that is the dome of Lemonitissa Church on the Kastro Akropolis.

 

In the Pedi valley the olives are swelling on the trees and men are clearing terraces for ploughing as soon as the first rains fall next month. The second spring that is characteristic of this part of the world is already underway. Seeds have started to germinate once more and trees and shrubs are developing new buds, shoots and leaves in anticipation of the rain.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,

Adriana